iot

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IoT — or the Internet of Things — is definitely here to stay. It may seem slow in the moment, but IoT has rapidly taken over our homes, schools, healthcare and workplaces. And over the next few years, there definitely will be more improvements.

Many people like myself ask, should I invest in IoT products? It seems like they're always coming out with new ideas and innovations everyday that any product I do buy will be outdated in a couple months.

Even if this is true, IoT is continuously building on itself — take the smartphone for example. Even though most of the world has smartphones now, people were hesitant to buy it at first. Now, it's the basis for connected devices — you can control your house lights, garage, pet feeders and more with your smartphone.

If you're still hesitant, here are other reasons why you should invest in IoT devices.

If you're a student

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Students are the future of IoT products — Generation Z kids were the first to actually grow up always having modern technology. Whether you're a college student, stuck in high school or teaching as an educator, IoT devices can help you.

Take your dorm for instance — items like smart plugs and home cameras allow you to control what happens in your room from anywhere. In everyday life, connecting tablets and laptops to your school's network can help keep you updated too.

If you love to travel

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Traveling gadgets have been prevalent since basically forever — however, we're now moving away from neck pillows and ear plugs. Get your hands on smart devices like the portable scanners — for the workaholic — smart suitcases and dual SIM smartphones for the ultimate relaxing vacation.

Take a beach vacation for example — relax by the water with a waterproof reader or play ball in the water with a connected speaker.

If you're into fashion

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Although this portion of IoT hasn't been thoroughly researched yet, there have been some pretty big improvements. Take the Anrealage Monte Z shoes — with a smartphone and AR, you can put designs onto your sneakers.

Some brands even let you virtually try on their clothing while others are working on wearable tech and multi-functioning connected accessories.

If you have pets

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Yes, IoT devices can even help your pets — in this case, mostly cats and dogs. With products such as smart dog collars and trackers, you won't ever lose your dog again. Smart feeders and pet players can also take care of your pet when you're away — with a tap of your smartphone.

If you own a home

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Obviously, smart homes are all the craze now — why get up and do something when you can be efficient and have it automated?

Your kitchen for example — smart refrigerators can help you keep track of your food or automatically reorder groceries while smart forks, cookers and coffee makers make your life easier with scheduling and automatic services.

If you have a car

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Cars are the next big step in IoT development — even though we have a few self-driving and connected cars on the road, we still haven't even fully switched over to electric yet. Funding and supporting research in this emerging market will help us convert faster.

As you're reading this article, researchers and professionals are making and testing automated and connected vehicles in a fake Michigan city called Mcity. Even though there are limited options on the market right now — especially affordable ones — more are soon to come.

After all these uses, I'd say investing in IoT products is a pretty good decision. Even though you don't particularly care about the movement, getting left behind could be pretty inconvenience in both your professional and personal life.

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The Internet of Things — maybe you've heard of the phrase, maybe you haven't. Maybe you've heard it muttered around the workplace as your colleagues talked about their new voice-activated devices.

The IoT has been growing steadily since the start of PCs and smartphones. From there, we've come out with more interconnected devices including smartwatches and televisions — maybe you've heard of our little friend, Alexa? Now, it's estimated that by 2020, there will be more than 24 billion IoT devices on the planet.

Source: BI Intelligence Estimates, 2015

However, IoT devices don't have to specifically be computers or screens really — they come in the form of our everyday devices. Smart cameras and water bottles can aid you at the beach while smart plugs and safes can help you out in your dorm or apartment.


Thus, IoT isn't just about the interconnection of devices anymore — it's about the way we live and think. When you build a smart home, you're not just using devices — you're a part of them. You think of ways to program your lights and AC that's not just shutting the blinds or pressing buttons on the wall.

Same with the way we learn — more and more schools now are incorporating tablets and interactive smartphone lessons into the classroom. Teachers can cut down on interruption time from transitioning, distributing and other menial tasks along with saving textbook resources.

But, how did we get here? Who decided that IoT was worth discovering and promoting?

According to 2014 Goldman Sachs and BI Intelligence Estimates, the average price of IoT hardware has been dropping and businesses will be the top investor of IoT. Also, agricultural companies, doctors, oil companies, insurance companies, retail, government and many more sectors are all increasing their use of IoT devices and sensors.

However, there are also very serious concerns about privacy and security, according to BI Intelligence. Hackers can easily get into accounts because IoT devices lack cybersecurity protections. This concern is oftentimes associated with government projects and can be possible even with self-driving cars.

But don't worry, engineers are working on the kinks in the system. In the meantime, you can keep up with IoT news from various tech websites, but you can also consult your friends, family and acquaintances.

If you're looking to build up your "smart life," most IoT devices have a home base on a smartphone — so start your build up there if you haven't already. IoT will definitely make your life easier and better — get on board before it's too late!